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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a service conversion opportunity |
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grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 161.086 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.086. SERVICE CONVERSION OPPORTUNITY GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Grant program" means the service conversion |
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opportunity grant program established under this section. |
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(2) "Sheltered employment services provider" means a |
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day habilitation service provider or a sheltered workshop under |
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contract with the department, commission, or another health and |
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human services agency, as defined by Section 531.001, Government |
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Code, to provide employment services to persons with disabilities. |
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(b) To the extent funds are available, the department, in |
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cooperation with the commission, shall establish a grant program to |
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assist sheltered employment services providers in restructuring |
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the manner in which the providers use financial and staff resources |
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in order to provide employment services to persons with |
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disabilities in a more integrated, community-based setting and to |
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maximize any funding sources available for that purpose. |
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(c) To be eligible to receive funds under the grant program, |
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a sheltered employment services provider must: |
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(1) apply to the department on a form prescribed by the |
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department; and |
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(2) meet eligibility requirements established by the |
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department. |
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(d) An application for a grant under this section must |
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contain a plan for the applicant's proposed use of grant funds, |
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including a description of how the provider will use the funds to |
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become a provider of more integrated, community-based employment |
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services. |
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(e) The department shall consider the following factors in |
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determining whether to award a grant under this section: |
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(1) the anticipated benefits from awarding the grant, |
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including the potential to create additional integrated, |
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community-based employment opportunities for persons with |
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disabilities; |
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(2) the applicant's qualifications; and |
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(3) the feasibility and financial soundness of the |
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applicant's plan. |
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(f) A grant recipient may use grant funds only to pay for |
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activities directly related to the purpose of the grant program as |
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described by Subsection (b) and may not use grant money for fees or |
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advertising. |
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(g) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |